Cyclone separating apparatus and a vacuum cleaner having the same

Abstract

A cyclone separating apparatus and a vacuum cleaner having the same are disclosed. More specifically, the cyclone separating apparatus for a vacuum cleaner comprises a first cyclone for separating drawn-in air, and a plurality of second cyclones installed on an outer periphery of the first cyclone to enclose the first cyclone. Accordingly, because a plurality of the cyclones separates dust, and a bulky structure is improved to a compact structure, suction force deterioration does not occur, and, dust-collecting efficiency is increased.

1. A cyclone separating apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a first cyclone for separating drawn-in air; 
 a plurality of second cyclones; and 
 a grill member installed at the first cyclone, 
 wherein the second cyclones are installed on an outer periphery of the first cyclone so as to enclose the first cyclone. 
 
   
   
     2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cyclone comprises:
 a first chamber for centrifugally separating air including dust; 
 a first inlet formed on the first chamber, into which air including dust flows; and 
 a first outlet formed on the first chamber, from which air is discharged. 
 
   
   
     3. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first chamber is cylindrically shaped. 
   
   
     4. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the grill member is installed upstream of the first outlet in the cyclone chamber to prevent dust and dirt separated from drawn-in air from flowing back through the first outlet. 
   
   
     5. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the grill member comprises:
 a grill body having a plurality of channels; 
 a grill opening formed on one side of the grill body, for discharging air from which dust or dirt has been separated, by communicating with the first outlet; and 
 a shielding member formed on the other side of the grill body, for preventing dust or dirt from flowing backward. 
 
   
   
     6. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the second cyclones comprises:
 a second chamber for further separating air separated by the first cyclone by centrifugal force; 
 a second inlet formed at the second chamber, into which air discharged from the first cyclone flows; and 
 a second outlet formed at the second chamber, for discharging air from which dust has been separated. 
 
   
   
     7. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the second chamber is formed with a predetermined part on one end with a conical shape. 
   
   
     8. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the cyclone separating apparatus further comprises:
 an inlet-outlet cover installed on an upper part of the first cyclone and the second cyclones, for communication between the first outlet of the first cyclone and the second inlet of the second cyclone; and 
 a cyclone cover installed on an upper part of the inlet-outlet cover. 
 
   
   
     9. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the inlet-outlet cover has an air channel for connecting the first outlet to the second inlet, and an outlet channel for communicating with the second outlet of the second cyclone. 
   
   
     10. The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein a predetermined portion of the outlet channel is inserted into the second outlet when the inlet-outlet cover is connected to the second cyclone so air is discharged through the outlet channel. 
   
   
     11. The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the outlet channel is configured so one end is connected to the second outlet of the second cyclone and the other end is open upward with respect to the inlet-outlet cover. 
   
   
     12. The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the inlet-outlet cover further comprises an integral-type channel for allowing air discharged from each of the outlet channels, to form one discharging current in the center. 
   
   
     13. The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the integral-type channel has an opening on an upper part. 
   
   
     14. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the cyclone cover includes a conical shape of which up and down spaces are open. 
   
   
     15. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cyclone and each of the second cyclones are integrally formed. 
   
   
     16. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein partitions are installed between the second cyclones. 
   
   
     17. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner main body for generating suction force by drawing-in dust-ladened air; 
 a suction brush for drawing-in dust from a bottom, which is a surface to be cleaned, using the suction force, and communicating with the vacuum cleaner main body; and 
 a cyclone separating apparatus installed in the vacuum cleaner main body, 
 wherein the cyclone separating apparatus comprises a first cyclone, a plurality of second cyclones for separating drawn-in air, and a grill positioned at the first cyclone, and the second cyclones are installed on an outer periphery of the first cyclone to enclose the first cyclone. 
 
   
   
     18. The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 17 , wherein the first cyclone comprises:
 a first chamber for separating air including dust using centrifugal force; 
 a first inlet formed on the first chamber, into which dust-ladened air flows; and 
 a first outlet formed on the first chamber, from which air is discharged. 
 
   
   
     19. The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 17 , wherein each of the second cyclones comprises:
 a second chamber for further separating air separated by the first cyclone using centrifugal force; 
 a second inlet formed at the second chamber, into which air discharged from the first cyclone flows; and 
 a second outlet formed at the second chamber, for discharging air from which dust has been separated. 
 
   
   
     20. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 at least one brush configured to draw in debris and air from a surface to be cleaned; 
 at least one first cyclone configured to separate at least a first portion of the debris from the air; and 
 a plurality of second cyclones configured to separate at least a second portion of the debris from the air, 
 wherein the plurality of second cyclones are positioned surrounding a periphery of the at least one first cyclone, and 
 wherein the at least one first cyclone and the plurality of second cyclones are contained in a main body of the vacuum cleaner. 
 
   
   
     21. A cyclone separating apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a first cyclone for separating drawn-in air; and 
 a plurality of second cyclones, 
 wherein the second cyclones are installed on an outer periphery of the first cyclone so as to enclose the first cyclone, and 
 wherein the first cyclone and each of the second cyclones are integrally formed. 
 
   
   
     22. A cyclone separating apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a first cyclone for separating drawn-in air; and 
 a plurality of second cyclones, 
 wherein the second cyclones are installed on an outer periphery of the first cyclone so as to enclose the first cyclone, and 
 wherein partitions are installed between the second cyclones.